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Profile
Structure
Drinking window
Best 3 to 12 years from vintage.
vintage3 yrs12 yrs14 yrs
Critic scores
No critic score is published for this bottle that we can cite with a reviewer, a vintage and a review year, so none is shown. The rating above is our own.
In the glass
Aroma: dark plum, violet, cedar, spice
Palate: dark berry, fine tannin, tobacco, long savoury close
Single-vineyard Merlot-led Bordeaux blend from Pares Balta. Named for co-winemaker Maria Elena Jimenez.
What it pairs with
- Iberian pork secreto Marbled pork meets the wine's firm tannin and dark fruit.More wines for pork →Find iberian pork secreto on TableJourney →
- Catalan estofat de bou Slow-braised beef and Merlot-led Bordeaux blends share register.Find catalan estofat de bou on TableJourney →
- Aged Manchego Sheep's-milk salt sharpens dark fruit and softens tannin grip.More wines for aged hard cheese →
- Braised lamb shoulder Long-cooked lamb sits perfectly with full-bodied Bordeaux-style reds.More wines for lamb →
With cheese
History
Single-vineyard Merlot-led Bordeaux blend from Pares Balta, named for co-winemaker Maria Elena Jimenez. Biodynamic since 2013.
- 2001First Mas Elena vintage
Facts
- Producer
- Pares Balta · visiting guide
- Grapes
- Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
- Classification
- DO Penedes
- Oak
- Ageing in French oak barriques
- ABV
- 14.0%
- Price
- EUR 20 to 30 at retail
- Drinking window
- 3-12 from vintage
- First vintage
- 2001
- Biodynamic
- Demeter Certified
- Organic
- CCPAE
- Vegan
- Yes (no animal-derived fining)
Frequently asked about Mas Elena Merlot
What does Mas Elena taste like?
Dark plum, violet, cedar and spice on the nose; dark berry, fine tannin, tobacco and a long savoury close on the palate. Full-bodied with firm tannin.
When should I drink Mas Elena?
Drink 3 to 12 years from vintage. A 45 minute decant in youth lifts the violet and dark-fruit notes.
Is Mas Elena vegan?
Yes. All Pares Balta wines are vegan and Demeter-certified biodynamic.
What food pairs with Mas Elena?
Iberian pork secreto and Catalan estofat de bou are canonical pairings. Aged Manchego and braised lamb shoulder are equally strong.
What grapes are in Mas Elena?
Merlot-led Bordeaux blend with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, single-vineyard from the biodynamic estate.
Tags
biodynamic
biodynamic certified
cabernet franc
cabernet sauvignon
dry
firm tannin
full body
medium acid
medium term
merlot
mood elegant
mood savoury
occasion dinner party
occasion special
old world
organic
pairs with aged cheese
pairs with game
pairs with pork
pairs with red meat
price trade up
single vineyard
still red
vegan
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